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STORY

Members of the House of Lords have debated the Social Housing Bill at second reading, with peers considering measures intended to protect existing social housing stock and strengthen protections for victims of domestic abuse. The Bill also seeks to reduce bureaucracy and repeal unimplemented provisions from previous housing legislation.

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage opened the debate and responded for the Government. The House of Lords said members were expected to raise concerns and identify areas where amendments may be needed as the legislation moves through Parliament.

The Bill forms part of the Government’s wider housing agenda, which includes attempts to increase security for tenants and address shortages in affordable housing. Its progress will be watched by housing associations, councils, domestic abuse charities and opposition parties as ministers try to show momentum on one of Labour’s central domestic policy areas.

STORY

Sterling has remained broadly stable against the dollar and euro despite continuing domestic political uncertainty. Reuters reported that the pound rose slightly against the dollar, while investors continued to monitor the impact of global uncertainty, the Bank of England’s outlook and the political risks facing the Government.

Analysts cited the Makerfield by-election as one potential political risk for markets, particularly if Andy Burnham’s return to Parliament strengthens speculation about a Labour leadership challenge. The contest has become a focal point for investors watching whether the Government can maintain fiscal and political stability.

The market reaction underlines the extent to which domestic political events are now being read alongside wider economic and geopolitical pressures. Although sterling has not suffered a major immediate fall, the possibility of renewed leadership turmoil remains a factor in assessments of Britain’s economic and fiscal outlook.

STORY

Britain will not have to pay Rwanda tens of millions of pounds over the cancelled asylum agreement, after the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejected Kigali’s financial claims. Rwanda had argued that the UK should still honour payment terms from the deal, which was scrapped by Starmer’s Government in 2024.

Reuters reported that Rwanda was seeking at least £60 million. The arbitration panel found that Rwanda had agreed in diplomatic notes in November 2024 to forgo further payments due in 2025 and 2026. The Government said it had robustly defended its position and repeated its criticism of the previous Conservative scheme.

The ruling is politically useful for ministers, who have repeatedly described the Rwanda policy as expensive and ineffective. However, it also keeps attention on asylum policy and the Government’s broader migration record, which remains one of the most contested areas of British politics.

STORY

Wales’ four Police and Crime Commissioners are to face questions from MPs on the future of policing and the UK Government’s Police Reform Bill. The Welsh Affairs Committee said the evidence session would examine proposed reforms affecting policing structures, accountability and governance in Wales.

The Government’s wider police reform agenda includes changes to the role of Police and Crime Commissioners and the relationship between policing and local accountability. The Welsh dimension is politically sensitive because policing is not devolved, but the Welsh Government and several Welsh political figures have previously argued for a greater Welsh role in policing policy.

The committee session will allow MPs to test whether the proposed reforms are suitable for Wales and whether they could affect local democratic accountability. It is also likely to explore how any changes would interact with Welsh public services, crime prevention work and wider debates about the devolution settlement.

STORY

The House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee has launched an inquiry into Article 2 of the Protocol/Windsor Framework. The provision is intended to ensure that there is no reduction in rights, safeguards or equality of opportunity in Northern Ireland as a result of Brexit.

The committee said it would examine how Article 2 works in practice, its impact on Northern Ireland and the wider UK, and its legal enforceability following the UK Supreme Court judgment in the Dillon case. It has issued a public call for written evidence, with submissions due by 9 July.

Lord Carlile, the committee chair, said the protections were of fundamental importance to people in Northern Ireland and that recent legal developments made it important to test whether the commitments were fully understood and upheld. The inquiry adds another layer of scrutiny to the post-Brexit settlement and its continuing constitutional consequences.